Unemployment Extension Stuck in Legislative Limbo

An extension of emergency unemployment benefits remains stuck in legislative limbo nearly a month after the Senate voted to send it to the House and more than four months after the benefits expired.

The two Senate co-authors of a retroactive, five-month unemployment extension continue to pressure Speaker John A. Boehner to take it up, but the speaker is still waiting for the White House to make a new offer before he will act. And the White House has made no such offer.

Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., spoke to Boehner earlier this week and said the speaker is willing to pass an extension, but only on the condition that President Barack Obama offer a measure to create jobs that could be attached to the extension bill.

“He wants the president to move on the necessary jobs proposals … because he believes if they do that then there would be a better chance of something like this passing,” Heller said, adding that Boehner made his position known to Obama late last year.

Heller noted that House Republicans are frustrated about the pileup of bills they have sent to the Senate that have been ignored.

“I do understand the frustration,” Heller said. “But that is where the speaker is coming from, that is where the Republicans are coming from, so much legislation that we send over that no action is being take on. … They feel compelled that this [unemployment insurance extension bill] is the only thing they can attach it to.”

Heller said he agrees with Boehner that the Senate has wrongly ignored House efforts to boost the economy.

“But today we have a problem,” he said. “Those are long-term fixes. … But the critical thing today is that we help those 34,000 in Nevada and 2.6 million across the country that need relief today.”

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., who joined Heller at the news conference, added that he believes Boehner and Republicans are just rationalizing their inaction. Boehner had previously called a five-month, Senate-passed extension impossible to implement and unworkable.

“It’s an excuse, not a good reason,” Reed said, adding there is no reason why the jobs creation proposals have to come from the White House.

“The House is capable of generating ideas and policies. … They do it all the time,” Reed said.

Both Heller and Reed urged the House to approve the Senate-passed bill, which would extend unemployment insurance benefits for five months retroactive to when they expired last year.

The cost of the bill is fully offset using a combination of revenue raisers that includes extending “pension smoothing” provisions from the 2012 highway bill and extending customs user fees through 2024.

Failing that, they urged the House to pass any extension that could be reconciled with the Senate bill.

But time is running out. Reed and Heller will have to draft a new bill in June if no action is taken on the Senate bill.

JOHN BOEHNER… YOUR NEW NAME “THE JIM JONES OF WASHINGTON.’… WATCH THE SUICIDES YOU CAUSE…

Joe Galtea

JOHN BOEHNER… YOUR NEW NAME “THE JIM JONES OF WASHINGTON.’… WATCH THE SUICIDES

Shizue Leigh Hicks

This is BOEHNER’s private theater. MISDIRECTION for the sake of those federal investigators who are looking into BOEHNER’s campaign funding and its misuse and misappropriation.

The Federal Election Committee (FEC) has JOHN BOEHNER under a microscope. Every time the FEC gets a little too close, BOEHNER lowers the boom on the long-term unemployed. by upsetting any plans to reinstate the UI Extensions. It is a well-calculated DISTRACTION.

Just like when he enlisted in the Navy in 1968. 8 weeks after enlisting he had a bad back and was honorably discharged for a medical reason. Funny thing: The Vietnam War was going on at the time.

Many have called BOEHNER’s Navy “career” DRAFT DODGE A LA BOEHNER. In other words, JOHN knows how to make calculated moves.

Matthew Pieri

What a pussy….he was in the Navy and still dodged?

KDuluth

So the president can offer a personal amendment to the Senate-passed extension bill to add jobs – and then the House will pass it and unemployment is extended?
And those “jobs bills” that are “piling up” like H.R. 2587: Protecting Jobs from Government Interference Act:

“Section 10(c) of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 160) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: : Provided further, That the Board shall have no power to order an employer (or seek an order against an employer) to restore or reinstate any work, product, production line, or equipment, to rescind any relocation, transfer, subcontracting, outsourcing, or other change regarding the location, entity, or employer who shall be engaged in production or other business operations, or to require any employer to make an initial or additional investment at a particular plant, facility, or location.” govtrack.us
This “jobs bill” makes sure no corporation will get “picked on” for sending jobs overseas. This is a House jobs bill.

Linda Dorman

All talk and no action. How hard can it be to come up with a job creation measure or pick one the Republicans claim they already support and get this done? Even if they do, it’s going to take weeks, if not months, for the claims to be processed. How many people do you know can afford to not have any money coming in for 5+ months?

We’ve burned through all our savings, retirement funds, home equity, sold anything of value and borrowed from everyone we can, only to face a pretty dire future. Is America ready to support a few million more homeless, poverty-stricken people?

Those of us who have been waiting since Dec. realize we’ve been written off as collateral damage. With no income or UI to help pay bills, we’ve been forced into other forms of public assistance (food stamps, housing, Medicaid, LIHEAP) to survive and that takes hours every day – time and effort that should be devoted to getting a job.

Even if they pass the current bill, Congress will be in the same boat come June. We need serious people who can come up with a jobs program (including financial assistance) laser-focused on the long-term unemployed to put people back to work asap so we have a chance to become self-sufficient again.

Bev

I agree that job creation is important. But the reality is, any job creation measure initiated by either party will be months or maybe even years in actually doing anything for America’s unemployed masses or the US economy. Passing this unemployment extension however, would help both sectors IMMEDIATELY. Not to mention these US Citizens would be able to provide basic human necessities for their families. This is the real issue here. The United States of America should be united on wanting every US Citizen to have BASIC HUMAN NECESSITIES if at all possible. And although passing this bill would not help every US Citizen who is struggling to have the necessities, it would help well over 3 million US Citizens. This is a no-brainer.

erick

The working class is being reduced to the status of 3rd world peasants that must accept austerity and poverty. It is the class war by the financial class against the working class.

Linda Dorman

It is clear to all of us (and anyone with compassion) but, unless Boehner’s demands are met, nothing will happen in the House. He has heard all the arguments about how the bill will stimulate $9 billion in consumer spending and add up to 300,000 jobs, and how it is the right thing to do, but it doesn’t matter to him. We need to eliminate every excuse he has for not letting this come to a vote and force him to act. It would be possible for Congress to pass a bill that first renews UI (including retroactive payments since Dec) AND includes a job creation measure scheduled to begin over the summer. It would be even better if they included a 90-day clause requiring Congress to figure out (before the midterm elections) how to fund UI on an ongoing basis. This does not mean that people would get benefits indefinitely, but it will provide relief for those whose state benefits end in the future.

FedUpInNJ

Congress doesn’t seem to even care that almost 4 million people aren’t paying FICA or STATE taxes?! Guess they don’t need the money?!

Advocate

Contact John Boehner and discuss your story. 4million cutoff, 75,000 added weekly and 200,000 veterans. 200,000 news jobs added every months yet we have 300,000 people move onto long-term unemployment??? The new jobs created every month don’t even cover the unemployed who move onto long-term unemployment. What about college graduates looking to enter into the job market??? There isn’t enough jobs for everyone and the negative jobs number are compounding, so long-term unemployment now is important.

John Boehner:
P: (202) 225-0600

(#1 to leave a message and #2 to speak with his assistant)

Michael Roberts

WE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF HELP!!!!! BUT!!! THE PEOPLE WE VOTED INTO THESE POSITIONS COULD CARE LESS ABOUT US AMERICANS. WE NEED A CHANGE IMMEDIATELY THESE SELFLESS PEOPLE NEED A TASTE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE.

Goozoo Chostermat

who should we call to cut his payments and benefits for this year?

biggin

BOEHNER DON’T CARE ABOUT ANYONE BUT HIMSELF AND HIS RICH FRIENDS YOU CAN CONTACT HIS OFFICE ALL DAY LONG IT WON’T HELP

Shizue Leigh Hicks

I agree. JOHN BOEHNER thinks of public service as a way of serving himself to the public’s money.

$223,500 base salary became $900,000 take home in 2013.

This son of a bartender who grew up in a 2-bedroom house where his parents slept on a fold-out couch and he and his 11 siblings shared a single bathroom with Mom and Dad learned early on that POLITICS = BLANK CHECK FOR ME.

Cynthia

Okay, thank you.

Ava’s Granddad

This is madness. How can one man, Speaker Boehner, be given this much power, to allow almost 3 million American citizens and their families to suffer. Why after 4 months of waiting for the Senate, through several Republican filibusters, before the 5 brave Republicans stood with the Democrats to pass a E.U.C. bill to the House, was Boehner able to ignore the long-term unemployed and refused to even allow a debate on the House floor. Now, after 17 days from the House and numerous bogus excuses, all shamefully since extending the program has been done successfully, eleven times before, were suppose to believe that he will agree to raise unemployment in the House, if job creation is included. I don’t trust him. This is a prime example of someone getting in the way of something positive, only because he can. Regardless of the harm he is causing. The House should be allowed to vote on the Senate’s bill.Today! Millions can not afford to wait for the House to create another bill that will have to go back to the Senate. Enough is enough!

Daniel

Amen

erick

Nero fiddled as Rome burned.

Matthew Pieri

The “fiddle” wasn’t invented yet. He played the lyre.

californian_aware

HOW CAN BOEHNER AND OTHERS SEND UKRAINE $1B AND IN THE SAME BREATH IGNORE AMERICANS. I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS.

Cynthia

Ditto! I thought about that whenever they did that so fast without a blink of an eye. Go figure….

Bev

Because the media keeps Ukraine in the headlines. However, the media has done nothing to bring this issue to the forefront. They need to be hounded to do so. Then maybe if reporters bring up the Unemployment Extension and the millions of hurting American citizens the politicians MIGHT do something. I would like to see the unemployed citizens in towns and cities across America somehow get to together for a few minutes in each location(along with their children of course) and get a picture taken looking as desperate as we feel right now, and then collectively email the photos to all the major news outlets with some sort of message, that might draw some attention. All these countries to which our government sends money always have their plight on video and have pictures in papers. We need the same coverage to get the stupid politicians feeling some pressure and it would give them the opportunity to look like they actually care about the people they represent.

Peter L Tomaino

You are correct , I have been calling the media and asking this same question, I seen some print stories, but very small stories, but no real news coverage

FedUpInNJ

That’s because the media is Republican owned.

rosie

SO true they need to go out to the streets and see how this is affecting us the American people but no such luck….

Cynthia

Ava, You took the thoughts right out of my brain. I am so tired of all of it. I even stopped on checking the news everyday about the vote like I used to, as it upsets me too much. I have been unemployed for a year and never have since i was 16 except for having children. I am now 60 and can’t get work. Maybe they need to be in our shoes unemployed, but I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. I am embarrassed to say I have always been a Republican, but thinking about going Independent!

FedUpInNJ

I will NEVER vote for a Republican again and plan on using my vote to get rid of every useless incumbent in office. I agree Cynthia, Independent is the way to go.

Disgustedwithemall

I WAS a Republican. Not after this and the Gov. shutdown. At the same time I cant vote for the Obama Dems. I guess I ll go anti incumbent also. Sad.

Peter L Tomaino

I have called about 10 R-congressmen and 10 D-congressmen
all 10 D want this bill passed
on the other hand. The R are all over the place. ( So far every R-Congressmen I have talk , has not read the Senate Bill )
One R-congressmen aid told me “They are waiting for the Senate to pass the bill and send it to the House.
He had no clue that the Senate pass it already and to really top it off. He told me “What are you worried about anyway . You still have 99 weeks ”
He really thought we are still collecting money. I tell you about being out of touch. Now you have the 27B tax cut for GE , They say they want to create more Jobs, GE is planing a layoff when they get their Tax cut , SO GE gets 27b in Tax cuts Plus they made 374b last year. Now they want to layoff people ( 1000 plus ) And they want Congress to Give them 27b more, Way to congress ! You just added another few more 1000 people in the next 6 months thare going to lose their homes because you failed to act.

Tom Robertson

Read above and you will see why you are not completely right.

Danny1029

Boehner is too busy trying to give amnesty and jobs to illegal aliens while totally ignoring the hardworking americans just having trouble finding work in an economy he helped create !!

Jackie Routh

What is up with that? Giving money to these foreign countries and not helping the American public.

Gar

Funny the article mentions “time is of the essence”. It was that 3 months ago. More dragging of the feet until this becomes a forgotten issue.

erick

John Boehner plans to delay until he can say that the long term unemployed have died of starvation or exposure, so the benefits are no longer needed. Then Boehner will give more tax breaks to his wealthy campaign contributors.

Shizue Leigh Hicks

The Employment Situation for April is scheduled to be released on Friday,
May 2, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).

This publication (The Employment Situation) is produced by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Last month’s total for long-term unemployed through March was 3.7 million.

Thomas Wise

Each week the long term unemployment rises yet everything I’ve been reading for over 2 mths now keeps it at 2.6 million..it should be well close to 4 million by now so I totally agree with that estimate..Boehner knows he wont be back after Nov so he doesn’t care, he’s set for life. Screw Boehner and send your emails and phone calls to the republican of your state, they want to come back after November..

Thomas Wise

More news stations need to put this unemployment story about people suffering because of one man a news headline, why am I only reading stories like this on blogs? Let the world know what a heartless man Boehner is…

keith

yeh why is that,someone has control of media and tryen to keep it off the airwaves,and bahma jusmentions it enough to throw in the end like he really gives a shit,wat a hoot

FedUpInNJ

News agencies are funded by Republicans, they will only mention it every once in awhile but NEVER do full blown coverage, they are afraid. I hope everyone is now seeing what Republicans really are and will use their votes to get rid of them in November. I also hope people see they can’t believe what they read or hear on the news or in the mainstream papers. The Huffington Post provides coverage but that’s about all I’ve seen. Shameful!

keith

seems to me that more an more are in same situation quickly and the numbers rising quickly,what is the number gonna be at election time and don’t u thnk it would hurt them consiably in the election coming,thats alotta people to be pissing off which im seeing a lot of republican people pissed idk,asken?

Goozoo Chostermat

I dont understand what the hold up is. Its disqusting what Bonehr is doing.
These people within two weeks went from receiving benefits to nothing without proper warning or sufficient time to prepare for the next few months. All they got was an email with a link that “maybe” on Jan 1st the benefits will expire.This was two weeks before the benefits expired without proper time to prepare.
At least let these people from this past batch get some relief.
It’s unfair and inhumane that Bonehr is holding these people hostage with no remorse for the benefit of his own agenda and his party’s agenda with no regard for human life….exactly the opposite of what he was put in office to do. At the same time sounding more and more stupid each time…..if he really wants to stop draining the economy let him and his republican buddies take a pay cut and cut their benefits and then we’ll see how fast congress can make a change!

rick

well mr obama bow down to your new chief in charge. mr bohner!!

dwayne myrie

there’s a nice warm spot in hell for Boehner, and the rest of these republicans clowns

DerekJR321

To hell with all these politicians. I haven’t heard one single “job creation” measure mentioned by the republicans. Keystone Pipeline? Nice try but that has already been proven to not create long term jobs. Bringing the job hours from 40 to 30 in respect to Obama Care? How the hell is THAT going to create jobs. Yet these are the two sticking points for Boehner. I hope that man never gets re-elected. He’s made over 3 million enemies in this country. Normally I don’t care if your Republican or Democrat. But I swear to whatever god you believe in, I will NEVER EVER EVER vote Republican EVER again.

Daniel

Thank you,nice to hear. A vote for Republicans is a vote against yourself. Democrats aren’t much better but they would pass a bill on an issue this important to 2.5 million people. Then they would screw us while we go back to sleep. Republicans just don’t give a farg about everyday Americans. Anyone who doesn’t see that yet is blind.

erick

The financial class regards the working class as working family trash. Unfortunately, the financial class is in power and calls the shots over both major political parties. Pass the robin hood tax–HR1579 the “Inclusive Prosperity Act of 2013″ This will impose a financial transaction tax (FTT) on wall street speculative stock trades.

Arrest Obama

SO instead of having a job you want to be socialist?

Go ahead. And Obama is still far worse, Boehner is a bone head but he’s not a criminal like Obama.

DerekJR321

Oh.. do tell how this job is going to be created? Do you think its from the Keystone Pipeline?? OH yes.. that’s the Republitards biggest thing right now. Except it’s been proven that it won’t create any long term jobs. How about reducing the hours of work required to be considered full time? That’s another Republican selling point. That won’t CREATE jobs.. that will just SAVE jobs that are already taken. I don’t know WTF you people think can just be magically created over night while people are being evicted, starving, living on the streets and some even committing suicide. Your right. How DARE we try to help the unemployed NOW while coming up with a solid long term jobs plan. Let’s just let those out of work die and fall off the face of the earth. Less for us to deal with later right?? RIGHT??

DerekJR321

And yes Boehner is a criminal. If he wasn’t then why is he under investigation? Ol’ Drunk Johny took a few too many payoff’s didn’t he….

Elbow Grease

Why can’t anyone see that both parties are playing games?

How can you not attach a job creation amendment to a bill that is supposed to help the unemployed get back into the work force?

The money for UI doesn’t come out of thin air, it needs to be accounted for. As a person who has received UI, and supports UI, people need to wake up and see that all of these politicians have hidden agendas.

We all need to REVOLT against these dirty politicians who are blatantly pushing private interest under our noses.

The Republicans want a Keystone pipeline deal with UI… How is that even allowed when they have nothing to do with each other? Just a scam to win votes and put money in their pockets. Even if UI depended on that Keystone pipeline, I would vote NO to UI because of further risk to the American public. That Keystone pipeline is dangerous. It could pollute water supplies on private property for folks who have worked very hard for that property

REVOLT!!

erick

The Koch brothers are Boehner’s major campaign contributors, and they will greatly profit from the Keystone XL pipeline. That is why millions of unemployed Americans are being held hostage. Join the boycott on the Koch brothers industries. See http://www.boycottkochbrothers.com

vbanker

ha your a tool and Warren Buffet will greatly profit if it is not built

Arrest Obama

Boehner already took investment money for his project on promises he’d make sure it happens. Sucks.

Arrest Obama

Thats why the bill is being re-written.

Peter Parratore

I have a honest question. How can 1 man decide if congress can vote on a bill?

Franklincounty79

Might as well make him PRESIDENT…….. Smh
The Purge is about to begin

disqus_9ZPfQ77y7k

Why won’t Boehner cry for us? Three days after Christmas, on December 28, 2013, Congress could not agree to temporary Emergency Unemployment Compensation for 1.3 million Americans who were laid-off from their jobs thru no fault of their own. As of April, just 4 months later, with an average 72,000 more added per week, that toll has more than doubled to nearly 3 million, including over 200,000 U.S. Veterans. Early this month, a bi-partisan Senate approved an Extension thru May (Thank You So Much Senate). But House Leader, John Boehner, won’t even allow this bill to come to the floor for a vote. The C.B.O. estimates that for every $1 spent on Unemployment Compensation, the GDP would increase from $1.70 to $1.90! This would help to maintain existing jobs! These families would immediately spend this money on food, rent, phone and gas, the necessities needed to search for work. The people have provided the tax money for these programs, while huge corporations pay little in taxes due to tax breaks, loop holes and off-shore havens! A quick internet search will reveal the horrific sufferings of these families whom most are parents of children, loosing their life savings, then their homes and finally their cars. Some even suggest thoughts of suicide. While possibly able to receive only minimal payments of Snap ($30 in food per person, per week for a family of 4), there seems to be plenty enough to find missing Malaysian planes en-route to China or to help people in the Ukraine or other foreign countries. On 60 Minutes, Boehner said, “Family-Kids- I can’t go to school any more. I used to go to a lot of schools, and you see all of these little kids running around, (Choking-up) can’t talk about it”, Boehner said. In a Fox News interview, Beohner said, “I wear my emotions on my sleeve, and i’m not going to apologize for being emotionally attached to the things I feel MOST STRONGLY ABOUT! Link: //usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/ss/Why-is-John-Boehner-Crying_4.htm Added to this telling is a partial list of the spectacle of crying displayed by John Boehner in just the last 4 years. And with that, we ask the Leader of the House of Representatives, if you publicly cry about Irish music at a St. Patrick’s Day luncheon, Why Won’t You Cry For Us? A♡. * December 2013-Boehner welled up talking about his path to Washington during a 60 Minute interview. (CBS News) * October 2013-He was spotted wiping tears away from his face during a Winston Churchill. (ABC News) * February 2013-Crying during an unveiling of a. Rosa Parks Statue. (AP) * July 2012-Got emotional at an event honoring late Painter Constantino Brumidi,(1805-1880). (Reuters) * Sept.2012-Boehner had to wipe away tears during a ceremony honoring golf legend Arnold Palmer. (AP) * March 2012-Boehner had to wipe tears from his eyes while listening to Irish music at a St.Patrick’s Day luncheon. (Tom Williams/Roll Call) * November 2011-Cried when giving Congressional Gold Medal to astronaut Neil Armstrong. (AP) * June 2012-Cried during a commencement address at Ohio State University. (Politico) * January 2011-Cried receiving the gravel from out-going House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (From Politico Website) * December2010-Choked-up talking about schools and his wife in a 60 Minute interview. (Politico) * November 2010-Boehner cried on election night. (AP) * May 2010-Cried while talking about his brothers and sisters. (Politico) * June 2009-Teared up at a Reagan Statue unveiling ceremony. (AP) * April 8,2014-Also teared up at Taco Bell event to help boys/girls club teens to graduate. (Politico) link: http://www.politico.com/gallery/2012/07/11-times-john-boehner-cried/000266-020908.html Note: Email this to every Media outlet you can. If Compassion won’t drive Boehner to help us, maybe Humility will!

276072

Month 1… Internet shut off
Month 2… Pawned Computer to pay for Cell Phone
Month 3… Cell phone shut off
Month 4… Car repossessed
Month 5… Facing eviction
(are you seeing a pattern here?)
Just wondering if I could have had a job by now if I hadn’t had to rob Peter to pay Paul, and then end up owing everyone!

singer9

i was homeless.

Arrest Obama

I was back in 2010. I got a job as a barista, and then they went out of business and I became homeless again.

My family eventually gave me a ‘second chance’ working for the family firm and laid me off to keep a cruel little mole snitch in the office who was a real Yes Bit%$..

And now i’m getting supported by my man. I love him but I need to work because i’m not the housewife type. Some women are ok with that, I am not. And my man is practically going broke because he is supporting me and I feel horrid. I’m not homeless anymore and haven’t been for years..

I feel like a total piece of worthless crap.

barrnone

They let 3 million Americans lose everything because their feeling are hurt about some bills piling up yup sounds like treason to me.

Daniel

The politicians should not be able to give aid to other countries while Americans are hurting. it is reprehensible what Boehner is doing. No one man should have this power. If there’s support from both sides of the aisle for something it should come up for a vote. This man is evil and has to much power. In a jam like this the house should be able to vote on overriding the speaker and bringing it to a vote. There has to be some fix so this doesn’t happen again. No one man should be able to hold the legislative process hostage for his personal political agenda. I’m disgusted with this. Where is the main stream news on this? How can we let our citizens suffer and hand out money around the globe. Those are our tax dollars.

Millie Stevens

Why am I not seeing anything about this on t.v.? I haven’t seen anything on any of the mainstream media. This bill will help millions of people that need the help now, but I haven’t seen it brought up at all on the so called news.

Arrest Obama

Because…

Don’t you get it yet?

We are UNDERGROUND.. NOT Mainstream.

We are the Underclass and forgettable as well as expendable.

On the bottom the chosen will SHhh on us like dirt in the bottom of a India latrine.

To the SEWERS!

charles

Let me tell yall how the story will end, they will say another senator confronts bohner and bohner says no. then obama confronts bohner and he still says NO
then another senator and another and another by the time u know it. times up, this is the plan. keep thinkng all this sudden (new senator) harrasing bohner everyweek is going to change anything.

Demogorgon9

Wasn’t Obama supposed to be the dictator? Right Republicans?

vbanker

don’t give me that left right stuff
they are both owned

Demogorgon9

agreed

rpj7884

two biggest idiots that ever lived !

Matthew Pieri

but but Boehner has a bad back and had to be released from the Navy after only 8 weeks of service in 1968!

Arrest Obama

Obama is the bad apple on top.

I mean republicans believe the apple on the bottom should somehow climb out of the basket and refuse to rot with the rest, so yes we condemn both of them.

But Obama is a criminal, like Hitler, and Boehners just a donkeys rear.

MsChesco

Who is the boss Boehner or Obama? People are so disrespectful.

vbanker

maybe they can use their CIA drug Money to pay for it
they have another record crop in Afghanistan

rpj7884

that makes too much sense, it’ll never happen,the senate,the white house and congress only supports asinine ideas.

erick

The American war in Afghanistan was to overthrow the Taliban, because the Taliban stopped the OPIUM production in that country. The international bankers need the drug money for needed financial liquidity. The last 7 CIA directors were former Wall Street drug money launders before they became CIA directors.

Lori

Even tho I do agree that the Unemployment Extension should be passed and its outrageous that it has even taken this long to only have it sit there..waiting for what everybody blames on Boehner. Agreed that he stalls the bill, BUT if all he is asking for is the President to include some sort of job growth provisions then you have to ask yourself why the hell if President Obama supposedly cares and tweets about wanting this bill to pass doesnt he include a job growth provision in the bill so all the unemployed workers can get their over due, deserved checks and pay their bills and give them some kind of hope?? If thats what Boehner is asking for then why doesnt Obama tweet that hes gonna get right on it after he gets of Twitter..What the heck..dont just blame one man .. Not saying I am a fan of Boehner but you have to, in reality look at the whole picture here. I too am one that lost benefits on Dec 28th 2013

californian_aware

SO WHY DOESN’T THE HOUSE PROPOSE ONE? IS THE PRESIDENT REQUIRED TO PROPOSE ONE? ISN’T THE EXTENSION IN ESSENCE A GROWTH PROVISION?

Arrest Obama

The extension will grow the unemployment rate about 3% points due to us not having been counted for 5 months.

Yeah..

Arrest Obama

Because Obama is pretending the job growth has occurred even though the numbers improved solely for the labor force dropouts or the uncounted and that the unemployed need not be seen nor heard, or counted.

ex-Republican

Keep up the racist rant you pig, something tells me your ugly, are you physically ugly, I bet you are…Mommy/Daddy ugly to…..ahhhhh yes Mommy and Daddy produced a very little ugly boy….I got you….you are ugly in spirit, cold heart, no soul, and then you look in the mirror and Oh Boy, Oh well….I got you…

californian_aware

“I do understand the frustration,” Heller said. “But that is where the speaker is coming from, that is where the Republicans are coming from, so much legislation that we send over that no action is being take on. … They feel compelled that this [unemployment insurance extension bill] is the only thing they can attach it to.”

It’s a shame the unemployed are being used and harmed here as leverafe for another matter.

Heller said he agrees with Boehner that the Senate has wrongly ignored House efforts to boost the economy.

The Senate voted to fund the extension which would boost the economy. The House is still allowing jobs to go overseas.

“But today we have a problem,” he said. “Those are long-term fixes. … But the critical thing today is that we help those 34,000 in Nevada and 2.6 million across the country that need relief today.”

I agree.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., who joined Heller at the news conference, added that he believes Boehner and Republicans are just rationalizing their inaction.

I agree.

Boehner had previously called a five-month, Senate-passed extension impossible to implement and unworkable.

Boehner and others approved sending Ukraine $1B US rather than helping US unemployed.

“It’s an excuse, not a good reason,” Reed said, adding there is no reason why the jobs creation proposals have to come from the White House.

I agree. Jobs don’t have to go overseas, either.

“The House is capable of generating ideas and policies. … They do it all the time,” Reed said.

I agree. The House has no intention in helping middle class America.

Both Heller and Reed urged the House to approve the Senate-passed bill, which would extend unemployment insurance benefits for five months retroactive to when they expired last year.

I agree.

The cost of the bill is fully offset using a combination of revenue raisers that includes extending “pension smoothing” provisions from the 2012 highway bill and extending customs user fees through 2024.

I agree.

Failing that, they urged the House to pass any extension that could be reconciled with the Senate bill.

I agree.

But time is running out. Reed and Heller will have to draft a new bill in June if no action is taken on the Senate bill.

“Time is of the essence,” Heller said.

I agree.

Heller, a former House member, has also reached out to other House Republicans, including Rules Chairman Pete Sessions of Texas, who has shown interest in the matter.

Sessions said he backs Boehner’s position that the measure should be paid for and that it include job growth provisions.

Ok, Here is a provision. Stop sending jobs overseas.

“That’s where I am,” he said, adding that he spoke to Heller Wednesday.

Where are unemployed Americans at?

californian_aware

“I do understand the frustration,” Heller said. “But that is where the speaker is coming from, that is where the Republicans are coming from, so much legislation that we send over that no action is being take on. … They feel compelled that this [unemployment insurance extension bill] is the only thing they can attach it to.”

UNEMPLOYED ARE CLEARLY HELD HOSTAGE

Heller said he agrees with Boehner that the Senate has wrongly ignored House efforts to boost the economy.

STOP SENDING JOBS OVERSEAS

“But today we have a problem,” he said. “Those are long-term fixes. … But the critical thing today is that we help those 34,000 in Nevada and 2.6 million across the country that need relief today.”

I AGREE.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., who joined Heller at the news conference, added that he believes Boehner and Republicans are just rationalizing their inaction.

THIS IS RATIONALIZATION AFTER THE FACT

Boehner had previously called a five-month, Senate-passed extension impossible to implement and unworkable.

HOW IS SENDING UKRAINE 1B US WORKABLE FOR BOEHNER?

“It’s an excuse, not a good reason,” Reed said, adding there is no reason why the jobs creation proposals have to come from the White House.

IT’S INCUMBENT UPON CONGRESS TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS.

“The House is capable of generating ideas and policies. … They do it all the time,” Reed said.

YES.

Both Heller and Reed urged the House to approve the Senate-passed bill, which would extend unemployment insurance benefits for five months retroactive to when they expired last year.

YES

The cost of the bill is fully offset using a combination of revenue raisers that includes extending “pension smoothing” provisions from the 2012 highway bill and extending customs user fees through 2024.

YES

Failing that, they urged the House to pass any extension that could be reconciled with the Senate bill.

YES.

But time is running out. Reed and Heller will have to draft a new bill in June if no action is taken on the Senate bill.

YES.

“Time is of the essence,” Heller said.

YES.

Heller, a former House member, has also reached out to other House Republicans, including Rules Chairman Pete Sessions of Texas, who has shown interest in the matter.

YES.

Sessions said he backs Boehner’s position that the measure should be paid for and that it include job growth provisions.

GREAT. SO PROPOSE SOME.

“That’s where I am,” he said, adding that he spoke to Heller Wednesday.

Now, I have a greater understanding of what JFK meant when he said “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country”. Because
after thirty some years of doing for my country, then finding myself in need. I dared to ask, and I found that it will do nothing.

disqus_9ZPfQ77y7k

Boehner cried at a ceremony for a long-dead painter! WHY WONT HE CRY FOR US?

jay

evreybody you have no goverment they all have their own agenda which doesn’t include you do what you have to do to survive they dont have morales or anykind of feelings for human life you may have the right to vote but ask yourself looking at these jackasses we call our goverment no matter who you put in office does it really matter ???

YONATAN C

John Boehner is NOT RIGHT about many things, the most important being the unemployment extension bill. With 2.6 Million families having been affected by his refusal to pass the extension bill in the senate, he and other republicans like him, have contributed to the pain and anguish of these millions of unemployed families, with little hope and income. He is a poor excuse for either a politician or human being that I can think of. How can he sleep KNOWING that families have been made homeless due to his decisions? Is it all JUST ABOUT him and taking care of HIS family, and the HECK with the rest of us? The Republicans have done a much worse disservice to themselves than to the unemployed in our country. Because now there are 2.6 Million of Angry voters, that WILL NOT vote for the republican party next elections. Was it worth it??

Jodie Mcgruer

everyone needs to go to http://www.petitions.whitehouse.gov to sign the petition for the President to sign an executive order to bypass the House & sign the unemployment extension. We need 100,000 signatures

Cynthia

Bev, I did write to mine and two of them came back and said no! Of course my letter was meaningless to them. I do know what you mean about words traveling fast. I wonder if Boehner read the letter that was presented to him about the 50 unemployed people telling him their stories?

Moshika

The madness is greed; plain and simple. Boehner and his clan want something in return; basically holding the desperation of the American Unemployed hostage. Why not does Obama step in — the rule of thumb is “no negation with terrorists” the terrorists is the Boehner Clan and we are the hostages simply because we were caught up in situations beyond at least my control. Obama, I see his mouth moving, my ears hear little simply because he has a “history” of back peddling hoping if he ignores the problems or situation long enough — ail will just…disappear… as the hopes and dreams of Americans. I do not understand why there has to be “negations” and if these negations are not met; well, the obvious is there; come June 1st (which Boehner will hold out) ends any hope for an extension. Now the bragging is out– unemployment has dropped a fraction; golly gee; people have just given up; others found summer jobs that will end before the holidays and unemployment starts all over. The death of the Americans in Bengasi prove a point — the excuse given “no troops were close by” and like the extension so desperately needed, will die with Obama and all officials sweeping this under the rug. Only families will suffer — and have no answer to “why and why wasn’t anything ever done about it.” Shame on you Boehner — your dictatorship is against the Constitution. As Roosevelt would say “bully” and not in the optimistic way.

Carol

This is just so unfair – we are being punished because they won’t cooperate with each other. The John Bohner guy is playing a game and we are doing without. Shame

Robert Fields

Like everyone else, he thinks it’s his money! People paid for it out of their taxes, but they are not doing anything with the tax money but hogging it for their buddies instead of using the funds we pay unemployment taxes with to make sure employers keep people employed or pay collectively for those they have fired for no reason of their own…even if it is for a long period of time. You can’t make a class of “slaves” business greedy bums!!!!!!!! Pay or hire! And Boehner and many of useless congress people need to be and should be unemployed; then they will extend it. However, we will have our chance to fire them in NOVEMBER and let them feel how it feels to be unemployed.

hearmeroar2014

Since December 28th 2013, I have been told I do not qualify for help because:

2. I didn’t have a job.
3. Neither did my 25 year old son, who moved back in with me, and is an AWAB who didn’t have a job.

Did any of you know that you have to work 20/hrs. a week to receive food benefits!? Now really…how much sense does that make?

I truly and honestly thought this was a compassionate country.

I know better now.

hearmeroar2014

Let me just try to clear this up. Employers pay UIC – NOT employees.
We, as employees pay Federal and State taxesl. Not saying that’s a good thing.

hearmeroar2014

Every single one of the “Representatives” should be held accountable. Period. It’s not about who does this, and who spends what anymore. It’s about trust. From my standpoint, government is who we elect; – we are the government – and we all have a lot to learn.

hearmeroar2014

So Boehner, you’ve failed in every attempt of your job. Please resign,

rpj7884

how can these cowards hide from the unemplyment extension? they act like this stuff is poison to them,well they should try to eat some like we did.

Chuck Foltz

It appears that this STUPID JERK needs to be in front of a firing squad and removed from this earth along with the so called number 1 at the now BLACK house . Lets send all of our hard earned money to somewhere other than here in the U.S. Stupid jerks !!!!!

tim

this is a joke 1 man can do this to the country and hold it in his right hand . grow up Boehner you are a jack ash. come November pack your bags

FedUpInNJ

Since when is it legal, nevermind ethical, for ONE MAN to solely hold the fate of almost 4 million?! Boehner is using people for political games and people have had it. People are losing EVERYTHING they worked hard for all because ONE MAN refuses to honor the process of democracy that’s in our Constitution! It is out and out TREASON and Boehner needs to be ousted. Its only a matter of time before someone snaps and there is violence. Boehner and Reid better watch their backs, people are VERY ANGRY and DESPERATE and desperate people do desperate things. Where the hell is Obama with his pen and phone? Dems needs to PUSH HARDER and get this passed before there is revolt, crime and death.

FedUpInNJ

I’ve actually had a meeting with my Congressman and SHOWED him my job search record and explained my position. I suggest everyone make an appointment with their representative and MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD and SHOW YOUR FACE!

Thomas William Muirhead

GIVE HIM THE STUPID PIPELINE

Tom Robertson

Smooth this.3.8 trillion budget and the anti white black communist can,t cut 10 billion dollars to please the republicans who care about this country going bankrupt.

Blackwidow

OH Unemployment rate for March 6.2% April 6.1%

Eric Matterson

This is like watching people drown and arguing about which direction to steer the ship after rescuing the people.

Eric Matterson

Why can’t the Dems send over the job creation bill that Boehner is looking for? Why can’t Boehner’s simple brain think of his own job creation solutions? This has to be the dumbest people in Congress in my 45 years of life.

Nana Monroe

does anyone know if this passes, will it be 5 months from december 31st or 5 months from when the first stage of unemployment ends for each person on a case by case scenario?

g2gretire

Hello everyone….I’ve said this a few times already through posting. Didn’t think I had to keep repeating myself…….here it is. Stop with the comments and attacking each other. It’s bad, situation critical.(UNEMPLOYMENT) “WE MUST TAKE THIS TO THE DOOR FRONT OF THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA”. ………PASS THE WORD, WE MUST BE HEARD.

This idiot Boehner, does not care about us. This is what happens if we put idiots like this Boehner in office. I heard some accuse us of being lazy or whatever. I have worked all my life. I lost my job thanks to Dell for outsourcing my position to Philippines. Why Boehner does not prevent these companies from laying off innocent American like me and millions more. I think neither the media nor our government including president Obama and the Congress care about us. How could this happen and it has been more than 4 months with no UI. I am about to use all of my rainy day funds. Its clear that none cares including Obama and the rest of the government. We have to let them hear us clear and loud. If we don’t start writing letters and starting a campaign to end this BS, nothing will be done. As I have said no one cares about us period.

YONATAN C

The republican party has done itself a huge disservice by blocking the passing of the extension bill in the senate. considering that there are over 2.6 million people directly affected by this bill, they have single handedly handed the opposition party 2.6 million votes in the coming election. These people are angry and will remember which political party failed them, and had refused to help them. Many “former” republicans like myself, will not vote for their party again after this situation. The republicans have clearly demonstrated who they are working for, and it’s not for the average American. The republicans are for big business and pleasing their true constituents “their lobbyists” which support them. The American people have seen the republican party in it’s true light, and will vote their conscience in the coming election. Senator Boehner and all his reoublican cronnies best enjoy their jobs for now, because many of them will not be in office in the future.

BOB

the unemployement rate stats are all bogus they / congress are
holding hostage the americans on there extention by holding
off on approval of the uie and tacking to other bills so it is
held up till june or later citizens on uie have not been paid
since 1-1-2014 rediculous/ shame on congress and poloticians..aaa

Guest

and sti

BOB

and still Congress sets on there thumb up there A,,

Lisa Morrison Lang

My message to !@#$ Repubs out there come November. YOU DIDN’T VOTE FOR ME (Unemployed) SO I’M NOT VOTING FOR YOU!!!!!

Let Bonehead stick that in his sweetened pot and smoke it!

Darrell

I am Darcell Ezell. I am on the end of getting put out my Mobile home which I have two notes behind. I have put resume in evety job I could qualify for. Most job accept resume online. If one thing is not in place for job you are applying for your application is deleted. I feel a lot of stress because I have no where live and my car that I use to look for a job will be gone April 16, 2014. I live in Sauk village. Illinois. I barley could eat until went to apply for food stamps. Now I will not have any where to cook my food. Homeless shelters are full. I have always worked hard, finish college with 5 children at home.this is the hardest time I ever had. Someone need to tell me out the HOUSE OF REPRESENTIVE what to fo? I feel like standing in front of a bank praying for money to float out or maybe a car. Which would be easy. If something don’t happuiken with unemployment it’s going to lead up to more crime. People doing and robbing.

I should know this but do not. Why does H.R. 3979 have to go back to the House for approval when according to Congress.gov it shows that the house passed it and it should be on its way to Obama? The little tool bar thing does not explain why it has to go back to the House. I should know this too, but whom or who can be write to? vote out of office?…

Joseph Benoit

Dear Mr John Boehner, My name is Joseph J Benoit Jr. I am one of 2.6 million Americans that you are holding hostage because some of your bills have not been passed. Mr. Boehner it is enough I have lost every thing I have worked for since I was sixteen years old and I am just disgusted the way You are holding us hostage. It is my opinion that You should be charged with crimes against humanity, we the citizens of this great country DO NOT DESERVE to be treated like this from you. I know I won’t vote for any ‘R” ever again in my lifetime. Stop thinking of party lines and start thinking “AMERICAN” Mr. Boeher you are a criminal and We the people and our justice system and the Media need to start treating you as such. The suffering of 3 million American Citizens need to stop this very Day.

BOB

enough now Congress get it done u have us hostage.. and we will vote ur a.. out…..

Yonatan YONATAN

As a former republican supporter, it sickens me the way the senate republicans have held” hostage” the passing of the unemployment extension bill in the senate. When there are more than 2.6 million families affected by unemployment in this country, many of whom have lost everything and have become homeless, while waiting for the extension bill to finally be passed. It saddens me to think that my party who claims to represent “family values”, have shown itself, to be the party that represents big business interests, and lobbyists. Senators such as John Boehner, have put the interest of the XL Oil Pipeline lobbyist, before his own constituents, and countrymen. The republican party has shown us their “new face”, and it’s not a pretty one. When millions of families in this country have had to face evictions, home foreclosures, personal bankruptcy, and homelessness, the senate are still playing “party politics” as usual. Since late last December the republican senate have used these poor families as bargaining chips, and for political leverage, to advance their own political agenda. As Benjamin Franklin once said “you can’t fool all of the people all of the time”, and the republican party will see a tremendous backlash by these millions of voters in the coming election. Many of voters who were once long time republicans, are disillusioned, and disgusted by the republicans uncaring and unsympathetic policies and decisions. I nor any of my “former ‘ republican friends, will not ever AGAIN VOTE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

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About #WGDB

Niels Lesniewski has covered the Senate for CQ Roll Call since January 2010, and more recently as a staff writer and resident procedure guru for Roll Call. Niels holds degrees in both government and theater but sometimes can't tell the difference between the two. @nielslesniewski